A MUM who lost one of her triplets is now raising money to help the medics who tried to save her.

Emma Houghton, 29, gave birth to identical triplets Skye, Lillie and Gracie by Caesarean section at Basildon Hospital, when she was 30 weeks pregnant – a full-term preganancy normally runs to 40 weeks.

After complications during the pregnancy Skye developed Necrotising Enterocolitis, a serious bacterial infection of the intestine, common in premature babies.

She was transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, for treatment, but sadly died aged just six days old.

Now Emma and her partner Mark Spillman, 35, of Link Road, Basildon, are doing what they can to raise money for Addenbrooke’s neo natal unit and Basildon’s St Luke’s Hospice.

Emma helped organise a recent bungee jump at the Long Riding pub, in Basildon, where landlady Pauline Yates-Leavens and her staff took part.

Emma said: “We had about 200 people come to the event on Sunday. It was amazing to see so many people turn out to support us. The pub was packed for the whole day and everyone had a really good time.

“We want to say thank you to everyone for coming and donating. The staff did everything they could to help us. They were amazing.”

The triplets were due to be born on May 9, but arrived on February 28 this year. Emma had previously suffered three miscarriages.

When they were born Skye weighed 2.10lb, Gracie was 2.04lb and Lillie was 1.15lb.

Lillie and Gracie also contracted the infection, but managed to fight it off.

Emma said: “I truly believe if it was not for the staff at Addenbrooke’s we would have lost Lillie too. It is still early days and there could be things wrong we just don’t know yet. But we have an amazing family around to support us.”

Emma is also mother to Shannon, nine, Curtis, seven, and Brenden, five, from a previous relationship.

It is not yet known how much has been raised from the bungee jump.

To learn about more events e-mail emmajokennedy@yahoo. co.uk To donate to the hospital log on to www.justgiving.com/emma-houghton2